Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Mid-December was the last session for the Rug Twining class at Fort Washakie. Only one of my students finished a rug, but the others have the technique mastered and should finish their rugs in short order.

During the class and subsequent work sessions, I finished a rug and the runner, shown in the photo above. The fabric strips from the last row on the runner still need to be woven into the rug before I can call it finished.

Ingrid's finished rugDecember 2015

I want to commend Ingrid on her finished rug. For the record, it is exceedingly difficult for a beginner to twine with the two strips the same color, and Ingrid did it beautifully on her entire rug. Well done, Ingrid!

Monday, December 28, 2015

Several months ago, I found two coordinating skeins of Encore yarn in a Casper thrift shop for a total of $1.50. The original price stickers are still on the yarn labels: $6.50 for the turquoise, and $6.98 for the off-white colorspun, so I got quite a bargain.

Last week, those two skeins became a Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ). Hopefully, this week, I can seam the shoulders and then add a collar (directions below) with the remaining yarn.

Pattern:Baby Surprise Jacket pattern from Schoolhouse Press (I recommend the A-B-C-SJ, Adult, Baby, Child Surprise Jacket Pattern because it includes the a row by row pattern for the baby sweater). Using this pattern makes knitting the BSJ easy and enjoyable.

The original pattern (the directions are NOT row by row) is a bit confusing, in my opinion.

Needles:
size 8 US

Collar details: after seaming the shoulders, pick up 18 stitches along each front neck edge and 20 stitches along the back of the neck. To prevent the collar from overlapping the buttons in the front, begin and/or stop picking up stitches at least four stitches from the front cast off edges. Knit 22 rows (11 ridges) and cast off in purl on the right side.

Friday, December 25, 2015

We celebrated a LOT of family Christmas' on the farm, and often the "Kids' Table" was set up in the living room when there were more guests than the kitchen table could handle comfortably.

Lots to see in this photo - TV tray for extra helpings, graduation and wedding photos on the wall above the stereo, pole lamp, a ceramic Christmas tree, a rabbit ears' antenna complete with a chunk of aluminum foil for "better" reception (we only got one station even with a large antenna), and a small glimpse of the Christmas tree with Harold's stocking tucked under it.

Terry and Brenda K. were married in 1984, so it's possible they were married when this photo was taken, but I think it was probably before taken earlier than 1984. Brenda M., Terry and Dwight are my niece and nephews.

If you have an overflow or "kids' table" at your house today, snap a photo to capture those memories.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

One of the gifts that I remember giving to my brother Rich at Christmas was a bottle of Old Spice aftershave. Even though he had other brands - Aqua Velva, Brut, and English Leather, the one he used the most was Old Spice.

Several family members gathered at my sister's house in June, and one morning I spied my nephew's toiletries on the counter of the guest bathroom. Sitting there was the familiar bottle of Old Spice, and I admit that I popped off the top and took a big whiff.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Open Windows is Quilt of Valor #82, which means I have completed 32 Quilts of Valor in 2015 - far more than I ever imagined were possible. The Shoo Fly blocks, featured on Monday's post, were used to create this top.

The last ten quilts have been made almost exclusively from the scrap bins. Yardage is only cut for background (white or off-white) and borders - sometimes the borders are remnants of previous quilt backs.

Just to clarify - when I finish a quilt and have "odd" sizes of fabric left over, rather than stuff it into a sack or box I cut it into sizes that can be used in various blocks. I start with the largest remnant and cut whatever that remnant allows; i.e., 10" squares, 8" squares, 6.5" squares, 5" squares, 4.5" squares, 3.5" squares, 2.5" squares and/or strips. I also try to cut some "bricks" which are 3.5 x 6.5 inches. These elements are then stacked in plastic bins and boxes and ready whenever needed. Bonnie Hunter calls this technique of scrap control: Scrap User's System. (click on the link for more details)

Thankfully, I've found a lady in Lander who welcomes smaller strings (2" or smaller) of scraps, so those scraps are given to her. Very little fabric is wasted which is a very good thing.

Cotton, quilting fabric pricing is all over the board: in some shops, the fabric is nearly $12 -14 a yard. Many shops also have clearance areas where fabric is 30 - 40% off, but selection is very limited; thus, it pays to use every possible bit of fabric.

I only needed to cut the white solid squares, as the center squares were already cut and in the 4-inch scrap bin. Once sewed together into the quilt top, the blocks will measure or finish at 10.5 inches.

Thirty Shoo Fly blocks were made from the HST scraps - enough for another Quilt of Valor.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

I'm focusing on using scraps before cutting into any "new" fabric The process is messy and time-consuming since the fabric has to be cut and trimmed. These stacks of scraps are destined to become granny squares.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

It was fascinating to see this man working on a new mural for the Missouri Star Quilt Company. The building was next to a small coffee shop where we popped in to purchase a cold drink.

mural in progressMissouri Star Quilt CompanyHamilton, MOAugust 2015

We went further down the street, and when we turned around to go back to the car, we could see the progress that he had made. How I would love to see the finished mural that appears to be a large farm house, probably with quilts on the porch.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Over the holiday weekend, another batch of flannel, receiving blankets and burp cloths was made for a local charity. This will likely be the last set of blankets I'll be making for a while, as it's time to get back to working with my quilting cotton scraps and make some Quilts of Valor.